Key-fastener.



a. 706,537. v Patented Aug. l2, I902.

B.-B. DOWNARD.

KEY FAS'TENEB.

Applica ion filed Nov. 15. 1901.)

(I0 lodel.)

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICEV.)

BYRON B. DOWNARD, OF MILYVAUKEE, WVISCONSIN.

KEY-FA'STENER."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,537, dated August12, 190

' Application filed November I5, 1901. Serial No. 82,337. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BYRON B. DOWNARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inKey-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efieotive devicethat may be conveniently carried in the pocket and used in connectionwith door-knobs and locks of various kinds to preventthe key of a'doorwhen locked on the inside from being turned or thrust out of the look byanother key or instrument inserted from the outside.

It consists, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out inthe claims, of a hook or clip adapted to be sprung over or caught uponthe stem of a door-knob and a bar having a jointed connection with thehook or clip and adapted to be passed through the bow of a key toprevent the same from being turned in or thrust from the lock by meansof a key or other instrument in the hand of a person outside.

In the accompanying drawings like letters designate the same parts inthe several figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fas- I tening unfolded and readyfor use. Fig. 2 is a view of the device when folded for carrying in thepocket, and Fig. 3 shows the device as applied to the knob and key of adoor.

A designates a hook or clip, which may be conveniently made from a fiatstrip of any suitable metal, such as steel, brass, or aluminium. It issuitably shaped to be caught over the stem of a door-knob, as shown inFig. 3. The opening into the hook may be contracted, so that the hookwill have to be sprung into place on the stem of the doorknob, and willthus be more securely held in engagement therewith.

B is a bar, formed in the direction'of its length with a series ofholes.It may be made from a flat strip of metal like or similar to thatfromwhich the hook A is made. It is connected at one end with the shankof the hook A by a link 0, which is pivoted at its ends to both the hookand the bar and permits theone to be folded against the other,

in order to pass readily through the bow of a key having a longer or ashorter stem. When the parts of the device are made from fiat strips ofmetal, as shown in the drawings, the bar B is givena quarter-twist closeto thelink O, sothat it will pass more readily through thebow of a key,and the holes in said bar will be in the desired relation to the key.

D is a pin or cotter, which is preferably connected by a chainE with thebar B or any other convenient part of the device. When the device isapplied to a door, as shown in Fig. 3, the pin or cotter D is insertedin the hole-next below the bow of the key and prevents any possibledisengagement of the fastening from the key or stem of the door-knob byworking the key from the outside.

Various modifications may be made in the device as to minor details ofconstruction Without atfectingits mode of operation or do parting fromthe principle and intended scope of the invention.

I claim- 1. In a fastening for door-keys, the combination of ahook orclip adapted to be caught upon the stem of a door-knob, a perforated barhaving a jointed connection at one end with the shank of said hook, anda pin or cotter having a flexible connection with a part of the deviceand adapted to pass through any of the holes in said bar, substantiallyas described.

2. In a fastening for door-keys, the combination of a hook made of aflatmetal strip and a flat bar connected at one endwith theshank of saidhook by a link and having a quartertwist close to said link,substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereto atfix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

BYRON B. DOIVNARD.

Fig. 3, to be carried toward or from the door

